iOS, Android • Few titles have had the long and drawn out development of 7 Wonders. We’ve been told it will be released in the next few months, but that was back in 2013. We’ve been informed that betas were starting, then ending, then starting again. It was the mobile version of Duke Nukem Forever. That’s all coming to an end next week because, hold on to your hats, 7 Wonders is coming to the App Store next Tuesday.
iOS Universal, Android • 2017 has seen a flood of digital board game conversions from new kid on the block, Asmodee Digital. Today, however, I think we can safely say is their strangest release. It’s called Catan Stories and finally allows us to roleplay as settlers on the titular island like we’ve always wanted to! In all honesty, I’ve never wanted to do this, and never really thought about the people collecting my wheat and sheep when I roll dice in Catan. I’ve thought about the robber, wondering why he’s such a dick, but I don’t think that’s where Catan Stories takes us. Anyway, Catan Stories is out now for iOS and Android.
Tabletop • When last we left our intrepid rebels, they had convinced the French to send a few resources their way and used them to take control of New Hampshire. Unfortunately, the British had troops to spare and loaded up Pennsylvania with both regulars and Tories and even built a fort in the Keystone State. Not to be outdone, the Native Americans added more warbands to the territories west and north of the Proclamation of 1763 line, and even built a village just outside the colonies. Luckily, both the Native Americans and British were unavailable for Turn 3, so lets see if the French and Patriots can make up some ground.
Tabletop • It’s commonly believed that the American Revolutionary War began on a wet Wednesday morning in northeastern Massachusetts in the year 1775. That may be true, but a much more fun version of it erupted on a cold November afternoon in Wisconsin, specifically (and much to my wife’s chagrin) on my dining room table. That’s when my latest foray into GMT Games‘ fifth COIN game, Liberty or Death, began, leading to the following tale of military and political highs and lows. The trip should have something for everyone. Old grognards can tell me where I misinterpreted the rules and how stupid I am for not covering my flank, while LoD newbs can read an alternate tale of the ARW and see if Liberty or Death seems like something they’d like to throw down on their own dining room table.
Tabletop • Over the past year I’ve become rather fond of a certain breed of game labeled as COIN games. As you most likely already know, these games deal with counter insurgency warfare where getting the locals on your side is just as, or more, important than putting the enemy in pine boxes. Root is an upcoming tabletop game that offers some light COIN mechanisms while also fulfilling my furry quota. In other words, it’s a win-win.
PC/Mac (available now), iOS/Android (coming soon) • In the “Oh, Shit, When Did That Happen?” department comes the discovery that Hidden Achievement has launched their digital version of the Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game on Steam. The answer to the question, by the way, is Monday.
iOS Universal, Android, PC/Mac/Linux • Next to real-time strategy, another major genre of game that has failed to make a huge impact on mobile is the Action RPG. There are a couple that don’t suck, Titan Quest for example, but there doesn’t seem to be a good way to translate the hectic craziness of overwhelming odds, combos, and tactical shenanigans that you expect in ARPG stalwarts, such as the Diablo series, to a touchscreen. Of course, me stating that a certain genre is neglected will be immediately followed by me stating that a new game in that genre has been released. I’m way too predictable, even for myself. That game is called Runic Rampage and yada, yada, yada.
PC/Mac/Linux • Due to some unforeseen issues that popped up yesterday, I wasn’t around the Stately offices to sound the alarm when Handelabra unleashed their latest endeavor, One Deck Dungeon, on Kickstarter. I’m back today, so…um, Handelabra has launched the One Deck Dungeon Kickstarter. Yeah, I really should have practiced this intro more.
PC • Despite how most people around these parts feel about Slitherine [disclaimer: I used to work there -ed.], the announcement of their latest game is worth at least a mention. First of all, it’s designed by Turnopia, the developers behind the wildly underrated, and iOS 11 incompatible, Qvadriga. Secondly, it’s a game about ancient naval warfare, which sounds too cool for us not to take a look. It’s called Mare Nostrum and it’s coming to PC on Thursday.
iOS, Android, PC/Mac • For a bit it was looking as if Asmodee Digital was going to corner the entire digital board game market, pushing out more titles than anyone else could possibly manage. DIGIDICED doesn’t seem to be buying into that scenario, and has been just as active with releasing and announcing new board and card games for iOS, Android, and Steam. All but one of their titles, however, have been 2-player Uwe Rosenberg titles, so it’s hard to be surprised by any of their announcements unless, of course, they announce a non-Rosenberg, non-two-player game, which is what happened last night. Their next title will be Isle of Skye, and it’s coming in early 2018.